At the End of a War of Attrition

Author: Iwashi-zukushi
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3388fm/9/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

It was a long, long battle.

“And then, and then, at that moment, Grace, you see—”

A charismatic beauty, giggling and doting as if she were a schoolgirl.
I could hardly commit lèse-majesté against that opponent, so to return the right responses at the right moments I could not miss a single word.
Thanks to that effort, at least, I did gather that Grace was the person in charge of education.
Smiling all the while, concentrating as if my whole body had become an ear—how long did I last like that?

“Your Majesty, the talk is inexhaustible, but you have another appointment before long.”
“Oh, that is so.
Asha, thanks to you I have had a worthwhile conversation. You have my thanks.”
“Y-yes… I am honored.”

Dizzy from concentrating too hard, I still put on a smile and answered Her Majesty.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Gerda giving me a look of sympathy.
I nodded, small; whether it got through, I did not know.

“Oh, that’s right. You have given me a fine tale, so I must give you something in return.
Asha, is there nothing you want, or nothing you would have me do?”

The Demon King, who had been about to stand, suddenly asked that.
Hearing it, I found myself blinking.

For an instant the Japanese person in my heart tried to decline out of modesty, and I crushed that impulse.
Given the Demon King’s character, I had a feeling that clumsy modesty would be ruder.
That said, asked so suddenly, it was not as if I had something I wanted.

“Eh, e-er, I’m sorry, may I think a little?”
“Yes, of course. Think it over thoroughly.”

The Demon King nodded, magnanimous, and sat back down on the sofa.
This was probably consideration, so that I would not have to blurt out an answer in a panic.
I glanced at Dorothea; there seemed to be a little time to spare still, and she showed no sign of hurrying us.
In that case.

“Your Majesty, forgive me, but may I ask a few more questions?”
“Has that to do with what you want?”
“Yes. It is important.”

When I nodded, the Demon King nodded back.

“Very well. Ask whatever you like.”
“Thank you. Then I shall take you at your word.
At present, about how many of the sacrifices who were sent here are still alive?
And about how many human-shaped monsters and demonfolk are there, for whom human treatment would likely be effective?”
“Hmh? Those sent as sacrifices: forty-six thousand and thirty-eight. Demonfolk and monsters: ninety-eight thousand four hundred and twenty-six.
There are still more of the so-called four-legged sort, but you will not count those?”
“Yes, that is so. Thank you.”

Bowing my head at the Demon King’s unhesitating reply, I felt my head swim.
Just under a hundred and fifty thousand. A number that ought to have three hundred physicians. No—two thirds of them were not human.
Which meant that, as I had thought, simply seeing patients would be absolutely more than I could handle.

“Also, about how large is this town?”
“Let me see. Roughly ten kilometers on a side, perhaps.”
“That’s hu—!? Ah, f-forgive me.
I-I see… it’s quite large…”
“Yes, I do not mind. Ah, the outskirts are fields and such, so the area where people actually live is narrower, you know?”
“I’m relieved to hear that… still, I should probably think in terms of about five kilometers on a side…”

Needless to say, this unit of kilometers is my own sense of it—that is, translated into that of modern Japan.
For reference, ten kilometers on a side, a hundred square kilometers, is, for example, Takatsuki in Osaka Prefecture at a hundred and five square kilometers.
Almost the same area as the bedroom community of some three hundred and fifty thousand where my grandparents had lived.
And that area for Takatsuki included the mountains in the north and so on.
With that example, can you see how large a range I would have to cover?
That being so, there was no question I would have to run preventive measures alongside symptomatic treatment.
In which case, as I thought.

“Your Majesty, then, if I may ask…
First, someone skilled in lightning-type magic. If possible, someone who can keep a secret.
Then, someone who has some special means of travel that could carry me as well.
And if possible, it would help if you could introduce me to someone who can use support magic—or rather, slightly convenient magic.”
“Ah, that I do not mind, but…
Fu, fufu, fufufu…”

I had meant it as a rather shameless request, but the Demon King covered her mouth and started laughing.
Eh, eh? I looked at her, and when I raised my face Dorothea wore an exasperated expression, and Gerda looked somehow unsettled.
What was this situation? What?
While I was still bewildered, the Demon King finally got her laughter under control and lifted her face.

“Say, Asha. When you are asked what you want, is that the first thing you think of?
From the content of your questions I cannot tell the details, but I take it these are largely things needed for treatment?
Not to satisfy your own desires, but to put treatment first—or rather, you have nothing else in your head, do you?”
“…Ah. Eh, e-er…”

Pointed out by the Demon King, I noticed it for the first time.
That I had not thought of a single thing for myself.
The reason my face went bright red when I realized it was not shame, but something more like embarrassment.
Yes. I supposed it was as the Demon King said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s all I think about… but to some extent, that may be so.”
“Fufu. You need not be shy. Well, I understand well enough that it is your nature.
And that wish of yours is part of your work as an apothecary, so of course I will approve it.
If anything, I will be leaving it to you alone, so tell me whatever you need.”
“Th-thank you!”

I bowed my head, for I no longer knew how many times.
A stupid thought crossed my mind: how much easier my previous life’s superiors would have been if they had been this reasonable.

“Now then. I have just the person.
Skilled in lightning magic, and able to fly. And above all, I am told there is no one who can keep a secret better.”
“Eh, there is someone like that!?
Then I would very much like to ask for them!”

What convenient personnel, I thought privately.
Of course I could not let such a person get away; I bit at once.
The Demon King looked at me with amusement, then looked to the side.

“She says so, Gerda. What say you?”
“Your Majesty, you are saying that knowing I can hardly refuse in this situation, aren’t you.”

Gerda answered the Demon King’s question with a wry smile.
Eh, eh? I found myself looking back and forth between them.

“Even you did not realize that far, I see.
Gerda, you understand, is a half sky dragon.
Physical strength, of course, and she is skilled in wind- and lightning-type magic, and has the ability to fly.
Carrying someone of your size and flying is a trifle for her.”
“Your Majesty… I would be most grateful if you would not make it sound quite so grand…”

Gerda, thoroughly troubled, and the Demon King, as if teasing her.
Watching the two of them, I was calling up the knowledge in my head.

Sky dragons.
Relatively small as dragons went, but when it came to flying, they left all others behind.
They were also skilled at commanding wind and lightning, and the breath they exhaled could be used as both a blade of vacuum and a lightning strike.
The coloring… should have been a slightly brighter blue than Gerda’s hair, but that would be because she was a half.
In which case, Gerda’s abilities ought to follow from that as well.

I had put on a face of understanding, and the Demon King turned to me again and asked.

“And so, Asha? You can have no complaint with Gerda, I take it?”
“That is… if anything, I think I’d be struck by lightning for complaining…
Is it all right? Gerda has her work as a knight, I believe.”
“Ah, I do not mind. In the long view, this too is an act of protecting the people.”

The Demon King nodded readily, and I felt something like emotion again.
I seemed to be considerably lucky. Only now, at last, but still.

“Then I ask you both, please.”

So saying, I bowed my head to the Demon King, and to Gerda.

“Yes. Then it is decided. Gerda has no objection, I assume.”
“I have never had a mouth with which to question what Your Majesty has decided.”
“How un-cute. And after you were fidgeting when you heard the conditions Asha laid out.”
“…May I exercise my right to remain silent?”

Listening to that exchange, I found myself looking forward to this work, just a little.

 

“As for a user of support magic, I will consider it and have word sent to the workshop later, so that will be all for now.
Then I shall leave the rest to you two young ones, shall I?”
“Your Majesty, that is not the phrase one uses in this situation.”

Receiving Dorothea’s retort, the Demon King withdrew, and Gerda and I, left in the room, looked at each other and smiled wryly.
Gerda had remained, incidentally, to guide me to the workshop I had been given, and to discuss what came next.

“How to put it… I’m sorry it has come to this.”
“No, it’s all right. And to be honest… the fact that you’re with me is reassuring.”

I smiled at Gerda’s troubled face, and she looked surprised.
Then she smiled back at once.

“I am glad to hear you say so.
…Then I shall show you to the workshop at once.”

I called to her as she started toward the door.

“Before you show me, I have a small request, if that’s all right?”
“Hm? Ah, of course. If it is something I can do.”

Gerda’s reaction when she looked back was as I had expected.
Taking advantage of that, I went on.

“Then, my request.
Will you go on a date with me?”

I said it with a mischievous smile, and Gerda stared at me with round eyes.